Women Starred in Enron Scandal?

With regard to the `Enron Gate` currently shaking up the U.S. political circle, three women have become the center of public attention. They are Sherron Watkins, vice president of Enron, former executive Maureen Castaneda, and Nancy Temple, an Arthur Andersen lawyer. The New York Times reported that, unlike previous Gates that had struck Washington in which women played only peripheral roles, the three women are playing major roles in the incident.

Vice president Watkins and executive Castaneda have emerged as `models of conscience`.

Ms. Watkins sent an 8 page letter pointing out the accounting problems in detail to Kenneth Ray, the president of Enron, in August last year before the Enron Gate burst out.

Recently released letter of Watkins provides crucial information for U.S. Congress, Justice Department, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to grasp the facts of the case. The Times also recently called Ms. Watkins `the greatest hero` in the Enron Gate.

Ms. Castaneda made public the information about illegal document shredding at Enron. She happened to find shredded documents nearby her office and presented the shredded document to the congressional investigation team. She testified that shredding of the documents had continued until mid-January when the congressional hearing began.

Meanwhile, Nancy Temple has taken the villain`s part in the `Enron drama`. Ms. Temple who works in the headquarters of Arthur Andersen in Chicago is known to have sent an e-mail to the Houston branch to deal appropriately with the documents related to Enron. She denied wrongdoings but Congressional investigators believe that her e-mail was `an invitation to shred` the Enron related documents.

Mi-Kyung Jung mickey@donga.com